Individual springing connection



March 11, *1941. .1. w. LElGHToN INDIVIDUAL SPRINGING CONNECTIN' Filed Nov. 2, 1938 .'5 Sheets-Sheet l n AW ORNE 14.5.

March 11, 1941. .1. w. LEIGHTON y 2,234,803

INDIVIDUAL SPRINGING CONNECTIO.

Filed Nov. 2, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 1.1, 1941 REISSUED UNITED STATE-s INDIVIDUAL SPRINGING CONNECTION John W. Leighton, Port Huron, Mich.

Application November z, 193s, serial No. 238,457

16 claims. (ci. aso- 9am 'the invention relates generally to Amotor vehicles, and it has particular relation to the individual springing of wheels for such vehicles.

in general it may be mentioned that a conventional type of individual springing includes upper and lower links pivotally connected to the vehicle frame and which are pivotally connected at their outer ends to a vertically extending wheel mounting or supporting member. At least in certain installations it is desirable to provide means for varying the caster angle of the Wheel or to provide a means for obtaining the correct caster angle initially when the installation is made, and this necessarily requires that the wheel mounting member be tilted in aA direction longitudinally of the vehicle. Tilting of the wheel mounting member, in the event this member connects the outer ends of the links directly, requires that the connections between the member and the links be such as to permit the tilting movement. While it is not new generally speaking totilt the wheel mounting member "for this purpose, the present invention is concerned with improvements.

One object of the invention is to provide improved connections between the wheel mounting member and the link which will enable varying the 'caster angle or initially obtaining it in a simple and easy manner without interfering with alignment of the bearing forming the pivotal connection between the links and the member.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved connections between the wheel mounting member and the links, including threaded bearings, wherein means are provided for varying or obtaining the caster angle without inter- `fering with thebearing between the threaded portions. l

ilnother object of the invention is to provide improved connections for the purposes men- 4 tioned in the preceding objects', which 'are simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, and to adjust. V

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, from the drawing pertaining thereto, and from the claims hereinafter'set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, elevational view, of individual springing embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view on a larger scale, partly in I cross-section, of the upper link shown by Fig. l;

PATENT OFFICEI Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, plan view of a different form of upper link, embodying another form of the invention;

' Fig. ii is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale taken substantiallyalong the line toi Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line tif-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view on the order of Fig. 8, illustrating a form of the invention wherein camber adjustment is obtained along with caster adjustment;

Fig. 1l is a cross-sectional view indicating the connection at the outer end of an upper link, such as shown by Fig. 7, wherein still another form of the invention is embodied;

Fig.12 is a View on the order of Fig. 5, illustrating a connection at the outer end of the lower link, wherein the connection is somewhat on the order of that shown by Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 illustrates a connection at the outer end of the upper link as constructed according to another form of the invention;

Fig. 14 illustrates another form of the invention employed at the outer end of the lower link;

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating still another form of the invention, which may be employed at the outer end of the upper link;

Fig. 16 is somewhat on the order of that shown by Fig. 15, illustrating a connection at the outer end of the lower link;

Fig. 1'7 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line II--I'I of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line I8-I8 of Fig. 16.

Referring to Fig. 1, the frame of a motor vehicle is indicated at I0, an upper link of the individual springing is indicated at II, a lower link is indicated at I2, the wheelmounting member is indicated at I3, and a wheel on the latter is indicated at I4. It may be added that the wheel is mounted directly on an axle I5, which is integral with an apertured bearing portion I6 that Y 'is, in the upper end of such member.

frame, and the member I3 is pivotally connected to the outer ends of the links, so that the frame may move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the wheel. y

The upper link II comprises arm portions 20 and 2I joined by a pin 22 which also serves as a shock absorber connection. Such arms, at their inner ends, have spaced apertured portions 23 and 24 receiving a control bar 25 having openings 26 adapting it to be bolted to the vehicle frame. Opposite ends of the bar 25 are threaded and the one end projecting through the aperture in portion 23 of arm 20 is threaded into a bushing 21, which in turn is threaded into the aperture and is rigidly locked therein by means of locking thread 26. 'Ihe opposite end oi the control bar is threaded into a bushing 29, which ls clamped in the aperture of portion 2li by means oi a bolt 36 which is partially received in a groove 3i in. the bushlng.- It will be understood that the apertured portion 24 is bifurcated and that the bolt 3i! draws the bifurcated portion in clamping relation around the bushing. At its outer end, arm 2li has a bent, threaded portion 35, which is parallel to the control bar 25.

Now referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the offset or bent portion 35 is threaded into a bushing 36, which is disposed in a substantially larger opening 31 in the wheel mounting member i3, that As best shown'by Figjfg' the wheel mounting member above and below the center line of the opening 31, has transversely extending openings 36 and' 39, which extend in a direction crosswise of the bushing 36. The opening 38 receives ,a pin lill, which has a substantially semi-cylindrical recess 4i in its lower side fitting the upper peripheral portion of the bushing. This pin terminates at one end in a threaded extension 43 which receives a nut M. that contacts the outer surface of the wheel mounting member around the opening 38.

The opening 39 receives a similar pin 46 having a substantially semi-cylindrical recess 4i, which ts the lower peripheral portion oi' the bushing. rlhis pin terminates likewise in a threaded extension having a nut thereon, which contacts that side of the wheel mounting member opposite the side contacted by the nut 65. lt should now' be appreciated that the -pins t@ and fifi may be shifted and that by tightening the nuts and 63, the bushing may be tightly clamped between the pins so as not only to locate the bushing but also to prevent its turning relative to the wheel mounting member. For positively preventing movement of the wheel mounting member iongltudinally of the bushing, the latter is provided with an annular groove 52, which receives a pin 53 projecting into an opening 56 in the lower pin 46 and which partially projectsthrough the recess 41 in the latter. The pin 53 has a threaded outer end 55 and the outer end oi' opening 56 is threaded for receiving this threaded' portion of the pin and such pin 53 is locked in position by a nut 58 which may be jammed against the outer 'end or pin 46.

non-threaded portion 69, which passes through a substantially larger opening 10 formed in the lower end ,of the wheel mounting member i3.

As best shown by.Fig. 6. the wheel mounting Vmember I3 has a transversely extending opening 13 which receives a pin 14 that has a partially cylindrical recess 15 fitting the upper peripheral portion of the enlargement 69. One end of this pin is threaded, as indicated at 11, andl receives a lock nut 16 which contactsy the face of the wheel mounting member. Below the enlargement 69 of pin 61, the wheel mounting member has a second opening 18, which receives a pin 19 that in turn iits a groove or recess 86 formed transversely in the lower side of the enlargement 69. In this instance, the pin is locked in position by p'eening over the metal at both ends thereof, as indicated at 6i. It will be apparent that by tightening the nut 16, the pin 61 and the enlarged portion 69 thereof in particular, may be positively locked to the wheel mounting member I3 both against turning and` against longitudinal movement, al-

though it will be appreciated that in tightening the nut 16, the enlarged portion 69 will be drawn against the side of the opening 10.

Considering Figs. 5 and 6, it will be realized that upon loosening the nut 16, the member i3 may be tilted longitudinally ofthe pin 61 within limits permitted by the size of the opening 1U, and that during any tilting movement of this character, the pin 14 .necessarily will turn slightly relative to the wheel. mounting member. Now

considering Figs. 3 and 4, it will be appreciated upon loosening the nuts 44 an'd 50, that the bushing 36 may be turned and the upper end of the wheel mounting member I3 thus shifted longitudinally in a tilting manner relative to the threaded portion 35 of the arm 26. During any tilting movement of this character, both the pin 40 and the pin 46 will turn slightly in the openings 38 and 39 provided respectively therefor. After tilting the wheel mounting member I3 to the desired extent to obtain the desired castering angle, the nuts 44 and 5B may be tightened at the upper endyof the member so .as to lock the bushing rigidly to the member and the nut 16 may be tightened at the lower end of themember so as to lock the latter tothe pin 61.

4 It is to be observed that thel threaded bearing,

.,both at the upperuendof the Jwheel ymounting be used both at the lower and upper ends of the wheel mounting member. It also might be advanced at this time that either of the two forms of connections shown by Figs. 3 and 5 may be used at either or both of the ends of the wheel mounting member. Referring to Figs. 'l and 8, the upper arm in this instance has two outer end portions and 90, which have pivotal threaded bearing engagement with a pin 66 in substantially the same manner as that characterizing the connection shown by Fig. 5. The pin 86, in this instance, has an annular groove 81, which substantially fits a pin 88 located in an opening 89 in the Wheel mounting member I3. An upper pin lili iii

91| disposed in an opening 9| in the wheel mounting member I3, above the axis oi' the bearing, has a threaded extension 92 receiving a nut 93 that engages the side of the wheel mounting member. This pin has a recess 95 ntting the upper peripheral portion of the pin 86 and upon tightening the nut 93. the pin may be locked against the side of the opening in the wheel mounting member and against the lower pin 88. It Will be noted at one end of the pin 06 that there is a socket 96 for receiving a wrench, so that the pin may be turned and access is -had to this socket by providing an Alemite fitting 91, which is threaded through a Welch plug 98 in the outer end of the bushing 1receiving the threaded end of the pin.

Upon loosening the nut 93, the pin may be turned and necessarily it will travel in a longitudinal direction and owing to its engagement with the lower pin 08, the upper end of the wheel mounting member will be carriedalong with the pin, so that the member will be tilted, it being understood that the upper pin 94 will turn slightly in its opening in accommodation of this movement.

Thus, with the lower end of the wheel mounting member free to pivot or tilt, the upper end may be shifted by moving the pin and in this manner the caster angle may be varied. It should be understood that a connection such as shown by Fig. 5 may be employed at the lower end of the wheel mounting member and the lower end be allowed to pivot as previously described in connection with the latter ligure. Upon Iobtaining the proper caster angle, the nut 93 may be tightened so as to lock the pin in place relative to the wheel mounting member and likewise the lower end of the wheel mounting member may be locked to the lower pin. Again, itmay be stated that the adjustments at both ends of the wheel mounting member leave the threaded bearing in a freely, oscillatory condition.

The construction shown by Fig. 10 is like that shown by Fig. 8, excepting lthat the intermediate portion of Ithe pin is eccentric, as indicated at |00. In this case, turning of the pin 86 in the manner already described for adjusting the caster angle, likewise will tilt the Amember I3 in a direction laterally of the vehicle, so as to adjust Ithe camber angle. 'I'he connection at the lower end of the wheel mounting member, as for example the connection shown by Fig. 5, readily will permit tilting vof the wheel mounting member both for obtaining such caster and camber adjustment.

Now referring to Fig. v11, the arms 85 and 90, comprising the upper arm as shown by Fig. '7, have pivotal bearing engagement with a threaded pin |02, which has an intermediate partially spherical enlargement |03 located adjacent a hexagonal head portion |04 integral with the pin. The wheel mounting member in this instance is of slightly d iilerent contour as compared to .the member I3 and is indicated by the numeral |05, and such member has an enlarged opening |06 through which the pin |02 passes and a partially spherical seat |01 tting the spherical enlargement |03 on the pin. A bushing |08 -threaded on the pin has one end formed with a spheri-cal seat |09, which fits a spherical surface at that side of the member opposite the seat |01. It will be appreciated that by tightening the bushing |00 and the head |03 against opposite sides of the wheel mounting member, the member may be positively locked to the pin and that by loosening thebushin'g |08 the enlarged intermediate portion of and turning pin |02, the member may be tilted.

At its lower end, the wheel mounting member is similarlyfconnected to -a lower pin |I2, which has threaded bearing engagement with the lower arms 60 and EI. It` should now be understood that by loosening vthe connection at the lower end of the wheel mounting member, and likewise loosening the connection at the upper end thereof, .that the wheel mounting member may be tilted to vary the caster angle, and when the proper angle is obtained, that the parts again may be tightened in ea-ch connection so as to positively lock each end of the wheel mounting member Ito its respective pin. Due to the spherical engagement at each end of the member, this tilting member is accommodated without disturbing the matching of the threaded bearings and from this itfollows .that a free oscillatory bearing is obtained in each connection.

It might be stated that in all of the arrangements described, adjustment of the caster angle necessarily will draw the outer ends of the upper and lower links slightly together or farther apart, depending uponthe character of the adjustment. In other words, tilting of the wheel mounting member necessarily changes its effective length and it becomes effectively shorter as the tilting is increased and effectively longer as the member approaches the vertical.

In the arrangement shown by Fig. 13, the outer of the latter, the member |3 has a vertically extending, threaded opening a threaded plug |2| that has seat |22 at its lower end, engaging `the upper side of the ball. By tightening this plug, the ball may be locked in the socket provided and thus the pin will be locked to the member for rotation ltherewith. Upon loosening the plug |2|, the pin ||5 may be turned so as to shift the upper end of the wheel mounting member longitudinally of the pin axis to adjust the caster angle, and then when the proper angle is obtained, the plug may be tightened so as to again lock the pin and member together.

As shown by Fig. 14, .the lower end of the Wheel mounting member in this case has an enlarged opening which receives a pin |25 that is threaded throughout its length. This pin may be locked against rotation in both of the arms 60 and 8| |20, which receives a partially spherical vby tight threaded engagement therewith and has an integral head |26 on one end and a nut |21 on its other end. It will be noted also that the pin has a lubricant passage |30 extending longitudinally Vthrough the pin to an Alemite fitting -seat |31 and the seat locked in place by using vobtuse angle threads or threads of locking character. This bushing has a partially spherical seat receiving the opposite end of the bushing and thus jointly the |40 lit rthe spherical surface |34 on the bushing |33. By tightening the bushing |39, the bushing |33 may be locked to the wheel mounting member for rotation therewith. It follows that by loosening the bushing, the lower end o! the wheel mounting member may be turned on the spherical surface to permit the caster adiustment described in connection with Fig. 13 and then the bushing |39 may be tightened to again lock the bushing |33 to the niember. As in the previously described connections. the threaded bearings are maintained in a freely oscillatory engagement.`

In the structure shown by Figs. 15 and i6, the upper end of the wheel mounting member is bifurcated, as indicated at |50, and the lower end is bifurcated, as indicated at |5|, and these bifurcated portions,A respectively, receive flattened but enlarged portions |52 and |53 of upper and lower pins |55 and |56. These threaded pins have threaded bearing engagement with the outer ends of the upper and lower arms in substantially the same manner as previously described in connection with Fig. 5.' It will be noted that the' enlarged, iiattened portion |52 on the upper pin |55 has an elongated opening |58, while the flattened portion |53 on the lower pin is substantially circular, as indicated at |59. As :shown best by Fig. 1'7, a bolt iii@ passes through the opening |58 in the upper pin |55 and through openings in the legs of the bifurcated portion |50, and is provided with a head itl on one end and a nut |52 having a cotter key lock on its opposite end. Spacing washers |65 may be provided on opposite @des of the enlarged portion |52 to substantially take up clearances. A similar bolt |66 connectsthe enlargedfiattened portion |53 on the lower pin |55 to the lower bifurcated portion |5| of the wheel mounting member. By loosening the bolt |66 at the lower end of the member slightly, and loosening the nut |62 at the upper end of the member, the latter may be tilted to adjust the caster angle, and it will be appreciated that the elongated opening |58 will allow this to be accomplished. Then, by tightening the locking nuts again, the Wheel mounting member may again be rigidly connected to the two bearing pins. If desired, the upper end of the mounting member may be entirely disconnected from the pin |55, and then the pin may be turned to move the intermediate portion |52 in one direction or another longitudinally of the pin, and then such portion may be disposed again in the bifurcated portion of the pin and locked to the member. If adjustment should be made in this last manner, the elongated opening |58 could be changed to a circular opening.

Although more than one form of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In an individual wheel springing, a link, an upright wheel supporting member a threaded element rigidly fixed to the outer end of the link and having its axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, `a second threaded element having threaded pivotal bearingfengagement with the first element.said wheel supporting member hav-v ing an enlarged longitudinally extending opening receiving the second element, and means in said opening for adjustably clamping the wheel supporting member to the second element but being adjustable to allow adjustable tilting of the wheel supporting member in a direction longitudinally of the vehicle.

2. In an individual Wheel springing, a link, an upright wheel supporting member. a threaded element rigidly lfixed to the outer end of the link and having its axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a second threaded element having threaded pivotal bearing engagement with the rst element, said wheel supporting member having an enlarged longitudinally extending opening receiving the second element, and means in said opening for adjustably clamping the but being adjustable to allow adjustable tilting of the wheel supporting member in a direction longitudinally of the vehicle, said clamping means including a bolt extending transversely to the threaded elements and having a recess substantially fitting a portion of the second threaded element.

3. In an individual wheel springing, a link, an upright wheel supporting member, an externally threaded element on the outer end of the link and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, an internally threaded bushing threaded on said element, said wheel supporting member having an enlarged opening receiving said bushing, and adjustable means for clamping said bushing to the wheel supporting member and being adjustable to allow the adjustable tilting of the latter in a direction longitudinally of the vehicle and relative to the bushing and threaded bearing while still allowing the bushing to be clamped to the supporting member.

=i. In an individual wheel springing, a link, an upright wheel supporting member, an externally threaded element on the outer end of the link and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, an internally threaded bushing threaded on said element, said wheel supporting member having an enlarged opening receiving said bushing, and adjustable means for clamping said bushing to the wheel supporting member and beingadjustable to allow the adjustable tilting of the latter in a direction longitudinally o the vehicle and relative to the bushing and threaded bearing, while still allowing the bushing to be clamped to the supporting member, said adjustable means including a threaded part on the wheel supporting member and extending into the enlarged opening therein and having a recess receiving a peripheral portion of the bushing.

5. In an individual springing, a' link, a wheel supporting member having an opening. an externally threaded element on the link extending through the opening, an int'emally threaded bushing in said, opening and having pivotal .y

threaded bearing engagement with the element, said opening being larger than the bushing so as to permit tilting of the member relative to the bushing, a bolt extending transversely through the member and having a recess receiving a pev ripheral portion of 'the bushing at one side of the opening,r and a second bolt extending through the member and having peripherally tting engagement with an oppositely located peripheral portion of the bushing, said bolts when turned permitting tilting of the member relative to the bushing in a direction longitudinally of the bushing.v

7. In an individual springing, a link, a wheel supporting member having an opening, an externally threaded element on the link extending through the opening, an .internally threaded bushing in said opening and having pivotal threaded bearing engagement with the element, said opening being larger than the bushing so as to permit tilting of the member relative to the bushing, a bolt extending transversely through the member and opening therein andhaving a recess receiving a peripheral portion of the bushing within said opening, and a pin extending transversely of the bushing and seated in a groove therein for preventing movement oi the member longitudinally of the bushing.

8. In an individual springing, a member having an opening, a bearing element ,extending through said opening, the opening being substantially larger than the element, and mans for adjustably locating the element in the opening so as adjustably. to permit tilting of the member relative to the element in a direction longitudinally of the latter, said means comprising a pin member extending. transversely through the member and into the opening therein and having a recess receiving a' peripheral portion oi the element.

9. In an individual springing, a member having an opening, a bearing element extending through said opening, the opening being substantially larger than the element, and means for adjustably locating the element -in the opening so as adjustably to permitrtilting of the member relative to the element in a direction longitudinally of the latter, said means comprising pin elements extending transversely through the vmember at opposite sides of the bearing element and having locating engagement with opposite, sides of the element.

1min an individual springing, a member having an opening, a bearing element extending into said opening and being substantially smaller than the opening, a pair of pins slideable respectively in openings extending transversely through the member at opposite sides of the element and each having a recess receiving aperipheral portion ot the element, and means for adjustably locating the pins so as to enable adjustably locating the bearing element relative to the member..

il, in an individual springing, a member hav ing an opening, a bearing element extending into said opening ,and being substantially smaller than the' opening, a pair of pins slidable respectively in openings extending transversely through the member at opposite sides of the element and each having a recess receiving a peripheral portion .of the element, and means for moving the pins in opposite directionsso as to clamp the bearing element between them.

`12. In an individual springing, a member having an opening, a bearing element extending into said opening and being substantially smaller than the opening, a pair of pins slideable respectively in openings extending transversely through the member at opposite sides of the element and each having a recess receiving a peripheral portion of the element, said pins being turnabie about their own axes so as to allow tilting of the bearing element relative to the member, and means for moving the pins in opposite directionsI so as to clamp the bearing element between them.

. 13. lin an individual Wheel springing, Van externally threaded member, an internally threaded bushing threaded on and having pivotal threaded bearing engagement with the threaded member, a second member having an opening substantially larger than and receiving the bushing, and adjustable means clamping the secondmember on the bushing but being adjustable to allow tilting of the bushing relative to the member in a direction longitudinally of the bushing, the arrangement being such that the members can turn relatively on a threaded bearing while being capable of being tilted relatively and clamped in relatively different positions.

i4. In an individual springing, a threaded member, an internally threaded bushing on'the member. `a second member having an opening receiving the bushing, and adjustable means clamping the second member on the bushing but being adjustable `to allow tilting of the bushing relative to the member in a direction longitudinally of the bushing, said bushing having its'outer surface of spherical contour and the opening in the second member being complementary thereto.

15. In an individual springing, member, an internally threaded bushing on the member and having its outer surface of spherical contour, a second member having a spherical socket receiving one end of the bushing and having a larger threaded opening around the other end oi the bushing, and a socket and clamping member threaded into such larger opening andV fitting the other end of the bushing.

16. in an individual springing, a threaded member, an internally threaded bushing on the member and having a spherical surface, a. second member having a spherical surface tting the surface on the bushing and means adjustably clamping the spherical surfaces together but allowing relative tilting ot the second member and bushing in a direction lengthwise of the threaded member.

il@ W. H1191 a threaded 

